Tips for a novice watch collector

Enjoy the research and hunting for the perfect model, and focus your budget on the truly meaningful pieces to avoid distractions and successfully achieve your ultimate goal.

If you've made it to LOFT, it's probably already too late for you. You've already lived through the struggles, suffered the disappointments, and stepped into the traps that every seasoned collector encounters during their eternal journey through this beautiful, but sometimes cruel, hobby. Regardless of when you started, or the size of your current arsenal, we've all made mistakes along the way, and those mistakes surely weigh on you to this day.

That vintage watch you passed up that's now an icon, that salesman who sold you an overpriced monster, or the crushing disappointment of finally receiving the package in the mail and not feeling a thing when you finally try it on your wrist. Anyway, we're here to travel back in time, return to our childhood as collectors, and give each other the advice we would have benefited from when we were just starting out in this world. Advice that may seem obvious, but that even those of us who have been in the game for many years continue to forget, or rather, choose to ignore, with dire consequences.

Whether you're just starting out and looking for direction amidst all the stimuli, or just want positive reinforcement for your next acquisition, here are six tips we'd give ourselves before starting our collection:

1. The journey is better than the destination

Much of the satisfaction derived from a watch comes in the research stage, the "hunt," so don't rush it, enjoy it. Once you buy, that's it, there's no more. Instead, the discovery stage—entering the dark depths of a model and finding out everything there is to know, good and bad—is what truly cements your bond with the watch. Today, with the internet, you can spend months, even years, becoming a scholar of a particular reference. That journey of discovery is wonderful, whether you buy or not, and will allow you to truly appreciate the details and soul of your next watch.

2. Win the big wars and forget the small battles

Often, on our journey toward that dream piece, we come across new watches, impulse purchases, and often low-value purchases that tempt us and distract us from the ultimate goal. Our advice is to ignore that siren call , keep your mind on the big picture, and avoid wasting your budget on pieces that ultimately won't scratch that itch that only a "grail" can cure.

3. Pay the best condition your budget allows.

This point is difficult to see at first. You save and save to barely reach the budget threshold for your dream watch. The problem is that at that point, you find poorly polished pieces, missing parts, of dubious origin, etc. Then, when you start seeing your brand-new watch on other collectors' wrists, you realize theirs are in perfect condition, making yours seem inferior, and you lose that initial love for it. Therefore, our advice is to always buy at the high end of the budget threshold for a certain model. If necessary, wait to save more, then wait. If you must buy a lower-value model, but in excellent condition, we advise you to do so. It's better to have the best example of a "lesser" model than to have a Frankenstein of a "superior" watch. Nothing fuels your long-term love for a watch more than being able to enjoy it healthy and proud among its peers.

4. Fashions are for children

You are a person of the world. You worked hard and saved up to buy a special watch. One that celebrates your individuality, says something sincere about you, and will still be relevant in 20, 30, or 100 years when your grandchildren inherit it. This is why we advise you to turn off your social media accounts before buying. The algorithm bombards us with what it thinks we want to see, perpetuating an endless loop of Daytonas, Royal Oaks, and Nautilus. We have nothing against these icons, but when choosing your watch, make sure you are the icon and that whatever you choose, you have to justify it only to yourself. Classics are classics for good reasons, but only you can make a watch become legendary in your life, so choose with your heart, not your ego. If you end up regretting it, relax; it's just a watch.

5. Meet the rest of the tribe

The greatest joy of this hobby comes from the people behind the dolls we see in photos. A room full of collectors is a room full of interesting people, who appreciate craftsmanship, engineering, design, and history. It's here where you'll meet someone who might be interested in your photos of your collection. Here you'll learn the secrets to purchasing impossible-to-find pieces. You'll come here for the watches, but you'll stay for the best conversations of your life. We hope to see you at our next event.

6. Dilates pleasure

Never, ever, ever buy on impulse. Not even a pair of socks, but especially not a watch. We know how hard it is to resist that impulse when you're passing by the boutique and that new item you've been waiting for arrives, or when a friend offers you something that seems irresistible. Always give yourself a 48-hour cooling-off period to consider the purchase. Is it within your budget? How does it affect my plans for the other pieces I had in mind? Is it something I really want, or is it the fear of missing out? Remember, there will ALWAYS be more watches, and a poorly controlled impulse can get you into trouble with your watchmaking goals or even your personal future. Breathe, enjoy what you have today, and then make that decision.